Western Cape: Agulhas Plain gains Ramsar status, boosting nature-based tourism!

South Africa has designated the Agulhas Plain as its 32nd Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site No. 2587), reinforcing the tourism and conservation value of this distinctive coastal landscape at the southernmost tip of Africa, near Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.

Formed on an ancient wave-cut platform where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, the largely flat plain is shaped by dunes, limestone hills and coastal cliffs that support a rich mosaic of wetlands. These include Soetendalsvlei, the country’s second-largest freshwater lake, after Lake Sibaya in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as marshes, floodplains, salt pans and estuaries - making the area especially appealing for birdwatching, photography and slow travel.

Situated within the Cape Floral Region UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Agulhas Plain forms part of the fynbos biome and supports outstanding biodiversity, including rare plants, abundant birdlife and threatened species such as the maccoa duck, the critically endangered Rose’s mountain toadlet and the Cape flats frog.

With a dedicated management plan in place, the new Ramsar status supports responsible eco-tourism and further enhances the appeal of the Overberg region, particularly for travellers exploring Cape Agulhas, Struisbaai and surrounding coastal routes.

About the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international agreement adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, aimed at conserving and promoting the wise use of wetlands worldwide. Wetlands listed as Ramsar Sites are recognised for their global ecological importance, particularly for waterbirds, biodiversity and ecosystem services, and the designation encourages long-term protection while supporting education, research and responsible nature-based tourism. 

 

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Ramsar status secures Angola’s wetland that sustains the Okavango Delta!

Angola has designated Lisima Lya Mwono as its first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention - an important step for protecting the Okavango Delta, Botswana’s most popular and internationally renowned tourism destination.

Listed as Ramsar Site No. 2584, Lisima Lya Mwono covers over 53,000 km² in Angola’s central and southeastern highlands within the Zambezi biogeographical region. The wetland forms a critical watershed, feeding river systems that sustain the Okavango Delta and the Zambezi Floodplain. Safeguarding this upstream source is essential to maintaining the Delta's seasonal floods, biodiversity, and tourism value.

The site’s deep sandy soils naturally filter rainfall into clear, low-mineral streams, supporting vast Miombo woodlands and peatlands across a wider area of more than 110,000 km². Lisima Lya Mwono hosts exceptional biodiversity, including the endangered Genlisea angolensis, as well as cheetah, lion, African wild dog, and the critically endangered giant sable antelope.

Its freshwater systems support over 18 endemic or near-endemic fish species and provide an important spawning area for African tigerfish—a species closely linked to the Okavango.

While Ramsar designation strengthens protection, water abstraction and poorly defined development remain potential threats. The announcement highlights a key reality: the long-term health of the Okavango Delta begins with protecting its Angolan source waters.

 

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Eastern Cape: Mkambati Nature Reserve declared South Africa's 31st Ramsar site!

The Mkambati Nature Reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape has officially been recognized as a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) by the Ramsar Convention. With this designation, the number of Ramsar Sites in the country now stands at 31.
Located along the Wild Coast, approximately 71km from Flagstaff, Mkambati Nature Reserve spans 7,720 hectares and is named after the rare Mkambathi Palm (Jubaeopsis caffra). The reserve features vast open grasslands, deep scarp forest ravines, and an intricate network of rivers, streams, marshlands, swamp forests, and waterfalls. The Msikaba River and the Mtentu River, with their open estuaries, form the northern and southern boundaries of the reserve, while a 13km stretch of untouched coastline lies between them. The Mtentu River is also home to small but significant patches of mangrove forest.
Additionally, the Gwegwe estuary and Mgcetyana estuarywithin the reserve flow into the Indian Ocean and the Pondoland Marine Protected Area. Notably, Mkambati Nature Reserve is home to the Mkambati Falls, one of the few waterfalls in the world that plunge directly into the ocean—making this protected area truly unique.

The Convention on Wetlands/Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.  

Mpumalanga: De Berg Nature Reserve declared South Africa’s 30th Ramsar site!

The De Berg Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga has been declared a Wetland of International Importance ("Ramsar Site") by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention. This addition brings the number of South Africa's Ramsar Sites to 30.
The De Berg Nature Reserve is located along the headwaters of the Dwars River about 20 kilometres north of the town of Dullstroom and lies adjacent to the Verloren Valei Ramsar Site. At an elevation of just over 2300 meters above sea level, the Nature Reserve contains the highest altitude wetlands in Mpumalanga. It consists of numerous valley bottom, seep wetlands and mountain streams and represents some of the most pristine and habitat diverse watercourses in the South African grassland biome.

The Convention on Wetlands/Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. 

Mpumalanga: Middelpunt Nature Reserve declared as South Africa’s 29th Ramsar site!

The Middelpunt Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga has been declared a Wetland of International Importance ("Ramsar Site") by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention. This addition brings the number of South Africa's Ramsar Sites to 29. The Middelpunt Nature Reserve is located along the headwaters of Lakenvleispruit, a stream in the Olifants River basin, approximately 14 kilometres from the town of Dullstroom.
The Nature Reserve is situated in one of South Africa's highest rainfall regions known as the Mpumalanga Drakensburg Strategic Water Source Area (SWSA), which consists primarily of a permanent freshwater valley bottom wetland, supported by lateral seeps and artesian springs. It is home to one of the rarest and most threatened water birds in Africa, the White-winged Flufftail, as well as to a number of other endangered and endemic species, including the Blue Crane, Secretary Bird, African Grass Owl, and Denham's Bustard. The Middelpunt Nature Reserve is one of just two in South Africa where the rare peat borrowing crab is found.

The Convention on Wetlands/Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.

The Berg Estuary in the Western Cape designated as South Africa’s 28th Ramsar Site! [update]

update (08 June 2022): An official Ramsar sign board located at the start of the Berg Estuary was unveiled recently by the Western Cape government and CapeNature at the launch of the Berg Estuary as a Ramsar site. 

The Berg Estuary in South Africa's Western Cape has been declared a Wetland of International Importance ("Ramsar Site") by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention. This addition brings the number of South Africa's Ramsar Sites to 28.
Situated at Velddrif, close to St Helena Bay where the Berg River flows into the sea, this estuary spans an area of 1 162 ha. The Berg Estuary is one of the most important coastal wetlands in South Africa. Fresh water flowing from the estuary and its floodplain mixes with marine water, enabling diverse conditions for various habitats to flourish. Among these is the third-largest saltmarsh on the Cape Coast. The estuary's unique vegetation is a valuable natural asset because of its rare plant species which are typical of the wider region. About 127 species of waterbird have been recorded since 1975, some of which are globally threatened. Despite its value, the Berg Estuary lacks an official national conservation status. However, there is a management plan which identifies research and monitoring priorities.

Berg River Estuary Boundary ©ramsar.org

The Berg Estuary, which is one of 290 estuaries in South Africa, is the second wetland of international importance to be declared in the country in two years. In 2021, the Ingula Nature Reserve in the northern Drakensberg was declared the country’s 27th Ramsar Site.

The Convention on Wetlands/Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.

Ingula Nature Reserve designated as South Africa’s 27th Ramsar Site!

The Ingula Nature Reserve in South Africa has been declared a Wetland of International Importance ("Ramsar Site") by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention. This addition brings the number of South Africa's Ramsar Sites to 27 covering a surface area of 571,089 hectares.
The Ingula Nature Reserve sits along the northernmost part of the Drakensberg mountain range, between Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. It lies between 1,260 and 1,900 metres above sea level, and mainly consists of dry grassy plains – which are partly cultivated and irrigated – interspersed with extensive wetlands. The Ingula Nature Reserve is home to over 300 bird species, of which 24 are threatened, 34 mammal species, including 11 carnivores and 10 antelope species, as well as 69 butterflies and 29 reptiles.
The Convention on Wetlands/Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. 

Annotated List of Wetlands of International Importance/Ramsar Sites in South Africa:

1. Barberspan
2. Blesbokspruit
3. Bot - Kleinmond Estuarine System
4. Dassen Island Nature Reserve
5. De Hoop Vlei
6. De Mond
7. Dyer Island Provincial Nature Reserve and Geyser Island Provincial Nature Reserve
8. False Bay Nature Reserve
9. Ingula Nature Reserve
10. Kgaswane Mountain Reserve
11. Kosi Bay
12. Lake Sibaya
13. Langebaan
14. Makuleke Wetlands
15. Natal Drakensberg Park
16. Ndumo Game Reserve
17. Ntsikeni Nature Reserve
18. Nylsvley Nature Reserve
19. Orange River Mouth
20. Prince Edward Islands
21. Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve
22. St. Lucia System
23. Turtle Beaches/Coral Reefs of Tongaland
24. uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve
25. Verloren Valei Nature Reserve
26. Verlorenvlei
27. Wilderness Lakes

Malawi declares the "Elephant Marsh" its second Ramsar site!

Malawi has declared the Elephant Marsh, situated in the lower Shire valley in the south of the country, its second Wetland of International Importance*. The marsh, which forms part of the flood plain of the River Shire, is a mosaic of rooted swamp vegetation, floating flora and open water with grassy margins and reed beds, interspersed with islands containing reeds, shrubs and palm trees. In some places, floating mats of vegetation are so thick boat travel is nearly impossible. The size of the Elephant Marsh is depending on the flow of the Shire river and the Ruo river and varies from season to season and year to year - it ranges usually between 400km² to 1200km². 


Malawi's second Ramsar site* was named "Elephant Marsh" by the explorer David Livingstone in 1859, who counted as many as 800 elephants in one sighting. Nowadays the elephants are largely gone, but the marsh supports over 20,000 waterbirds. Around 26 waterbird species have been found breeding in the Elephant Marsh, including fish eagles, storks, kingfishers, herons, as well as the threatened Madagascar squacco heron, wattled crane and grey crowned crane.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands by providing a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of these fragile ecosystems and their resources. 



*Lake Chilwa, second-largest lake in Malawi, was declared a Ramsar site in 1996.

Namibia has designated its fifth Ramsar Site!

update (14 Feb 2014): The official launch of Namibia's 5th Ramsar Site will take place today (14 Feb 2014). 

Namibia has designated its fifth Ramsar Site. The Lower Okavango River and its associated woodlands in the Bwabwata National Park, known as Bwabwata–Okavango, is the country's fifth Ramsar Site. Located in Namibia's northern Kavango region, parts of the southern boundary of the 46,964 ha site are contiguous with the northern boundary of the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site in Botswana.
The Bwabwata–Okavango, home to IUCN Red-Listed species such as elephants, hippos, lions as well as slaty egrets and the endangered grey crowned cranes, supports one of the highest diversities of species in the Zambezian Flooded Savannas ecoregion. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded, the highest number of any site in Namibia. Namibia's other four Ramsar Sites include the Orange River Mouth, the Sandwich Harbour, Walvis Bay Lagoon and the Etosha Pan.


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The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands by providing a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of these fragile ecosystems and their resources.

Kenya: Tana River Delta recognised as a Ramsar site

The Tana River Delta in Kenya's Coast Province has been officially recognised as the world's latest Ramsar site. In a statement from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands' Secretariat, the Assistant Advisor for Africa, Ms. Ako Charlotte Eyong described the Tana River Delta as is the second most important estuarine and deltaic ecosystem in Eastern Africa, comprising a variety of freshwater, floodplain, estuarine and coastal habitats with extensive and diverse mangrove systems, marine brackish and freshwater intertidal areas, pristine beaches and shallow marine areas, forming productive and functionally interconnected ecosystems. The rich biodiversity of the delta includes coastal and marine prawns, shrimps, bivalves and fish, five species of threatened marine turtles and IUCN red-listed African elephant, Tana Mangabey, Tana River Red Colobus and White-collared Monkey.
Kenya presently has six Ramsar Sites, covering an area of 265,449 hectares.


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The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands by providing a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of these fragile ecosystems and their resources.

Lake Niassa has been officially declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique

Lake Niassa (or Lake Malawi), located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, has been officially declared a reserve by the Government of Mozambique, protecting the species and natural habitats of one of the largest and the most bio-diverse, freshwater lakes in the world.
The Government of Mozambique has also approved the proposal for the designation of Lake Niassa as a Ramsar site, including not only the reserve, but surrounding wetlands and watershed. This wetland will be the second Ramsar site for Mozambique after the declaration of Marromeu Complex in 2003.


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The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands. Ramsar Sites are wetlands of a certain international importance. The sites are selected by the member states for designation under the Convention by reference to the Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance.